SimRacing.org.uk

Grid/server capacity: 22

Track: Spa Francorchamps

Cars allowed: Abarth 1000TC, Alfa Romeo GTA, Austin Mini Cooper S, Ford Falcon, Ford Mustang, Jaguar MkII, Lotus Cortina

Note: Driver's can only choose one car make per race. Applies to Round's 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13.

CUP STAGE B, Round 12

Practice: ~19:20 (5 mins)
Qualifying: 20:20 (20 mins)
Race: 20:40 (16 laps)

Time of Day Setting: 14:00
Start: STANDING
Tyre wear: Normal
Fuel consumption: Normal

Server: simracing.org.uk Monday
Password: see above (#post_event_password)

Notes:
(1) It's best if all drivers can make sure they are connected before the Qualifying session as drivers on track during qualifying will not see cars that join after they are on track until they go back to the garage.
(2) Please make sure you are fully aware of the SimRacing.org.uk Rules.
(3) The AI control should be turned off so that you have control of the car at all times, including pitting. Your player file should therefore read
Autopit="0"
Force Autopit Off="1" // Forces autopit always off
No AI Control="1" // AI never has control over car
If you still finding pitting problematic, experience tells us that its less to do with positioning and more to do with approach speed. A slow approach to pit crew chief has proved most reliable.

Special Notes: To score points in this series you must complete over 50% of the overall race distance.

A useful car roster so you can keep track of Car's used during the remainder of this competition.

Click here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y8xnSbRtT-12r1V6GqgmR_JhYYO5_fcyxeA3wDw51qQ/edit?usp=sharing)

Results and replay now posted.

Absolutely love Spa, right up there in my personal list of favourite tracks, but I made a bit of a boo boo tonight I think. The car was too heavy at the start and I just couldn't find any pace until half distance. By this point, myself and Dan had managed to find our own routes past both Clive and Dimitar in the V8s, they had early pace but could not sustain it and our little 4 bangers were through. Geoff however was away and gone for a great win, no competition in sight at all.

I found myself around 5 seconds behind Dan once we had clear track, so set out in pursuit. My car was getting faster and faster, but no matter how hard I tried I just could not quite close the gap, right up until the final couple of laps really. But he was up to the task, and managed the gap with some great consistency to take second. I took 3rd with 8 laps worth of fuel left in the tank.....

Will have to revisit this at some point, did 2.58.6s in practise last night, but couldn't find that sort of pace tonight unfortunately. Certainly would have made no difference to the winner, Geoffers had this on toast in the Falcon, great race pace, the tires must have held up better than I would have thought, and I would have struggled to do anything than fight for position with Dan with the pace that he showed tonight, great stuff all round.

On to Imola it is, level on points I think? Not a favourite track of mine though, so will have to see what I can extract over the week....
 

My love of the big V8's is probably obvious and it was a no brainer to take the Falcon.

Once again Geoffers showed us mere mortals how it should be done  :notworthy:

The early laps were completely authentic saloon car racing with exchanges of paint samples and minor bodywork modifications. I managed to get amongst the Dan, Daz, Dimitar and Matt melee and was quite enjoying the differences between the cars. The Falcon had so much outright speed that it was embarrassing on the fast sections, but the Alfa and the Cortina exposed the Falcon's barge like handling as soon as we encountered any corners  :-\
 I had expected the Mustang to be a match for the Falcon on the straights but there was a big speed advantage for the Falcon.
Things were pretty even until I got over excited with the loud pedal out of La Source and performed a pirouette that lost me vital seconds and took the pressure off of Dan and Daz.
Around Lap 10 the tyres were beginning to exhibit symptoms of extreme fatigue and with each negotiation of Eau Rouge my buttocks were becoming more tightly clenched  :scared: Dimitar dropped out and Daz eased away, so I was left to drive a lonely race to the flag.

Imola will be a challenge and no more big bangers for me to drive  :-\

Initial testing in the Falcon started to make me regret using it at Spa, I could not get it around in under 3m. What seemed to make the difference (along with a couple of setup changes) & improve laptimes, was to use the highest gearing rather than the middle ratio. Although a little overgeared for the Kemmel it made the ratios more suitable for the twisty bits & at a couple of places saved  a gearchange. Biggest gain though was through Eau Rouge & Radillion, with the middle gearing changing down to 3rd scrubbed off too much speed but staying in top dropped the revs a little low & the car was difficult to turn, but using highest gearing made 3rd gear just right.

Anyway, the race. Got a good start & opened a gap over DD in the opening laps. Tried to keep it smooth & not overwork the tyres but around the middle of the race I got a little enthusiastic & set the fastest lap, which was a mistake as almost straight away the tyres lost some grip. So the rest of the race was a bit of a balancing act between keeping the speed up but not being too aggressive whilst keeping an eye on the gap back to Dan & Daz who were starting to get closer. Fortunately the tyres held up quite well until the end although in the last couple of laps they were getting a bit sketchy.

Congrats to Dan & Daz.  :clap: :clap:

Looks like the finale at Imola will be interesting, nearly an all Alfa affair. Like Daz, not one of my favourite tracks, too many chicanes.

Result (https://www.avonrise.co.uk/srou/kurts/_2020//14122020_Spa)

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